"Spain has recovered its leading position in the European Union in terms of the value of agricultural income", says Isabel García Tejerina

In her appearance at the government control session in the Lower House of Parliament, Isabel García Tejerina pointed out that, according to the estimates made by her ministerial department, agricultural income in current terms amounted to 25.69 billion euros in 2016, a 6.9% rise on 2015. She also pointed out that output from agricultural production amounted to 46.81 billion euros, an all-time record.

Isabel García Tejerina also indicated that, comparing changes in domestic agricultural income with changes at an EU level, there has been a 2.1% fall in agricultural income at constant terms per annual work unit (AWU) in the European Union while this rose in Spain by 4.4%.

On another note, the minister recalled that, since the mid 1990s, agricultural income increased until it reached its maximum level in 2003. Since then, it began to fall and in the last year of the previous government, income was 15% lower than four years earlier. However, Isabel García Tejerina underlined that income is now 15% higher than in 2011.

According to the minister, this has been possible thanks to the efforts and sacrifice of Spanish farmers and livestock holders, and to the measures pushed through by this government to create suitable conditions and to facilitate growth in income. Among these initiatives, the minister quoted the application of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), regulations on the food chain and cooperative integration, as well as the boost given to the internationalisation of the sector.